Abstract

Fumonisins (FBs), which are carcinogenic mycotoxins, are known to be typically produced by several phytopathogenicfungal species belonging to the genus Fusarium. F. proliferatum and F. verticillioides, two important pathogens of maizeworldwide, are the most common species that produce FBs. The main FBs produced by these species are FB1, FB2 and FB3.Moreover, recently, fungal strains belonging to Aspergillus niger have been also reported to produce FBs (in particular, FB2and FB4). In a survey on maize carried out in Central Italy, 17 maize kernel samples were collected at harvest and analysedfor FB1, FB2 and FB3, as well as fungal contamination, with a particular attention to the species-producing FBs. All 17samples were contaminated by F. verticillioides and/or F. proliferatum at a level ranging from 13% to 100% of kernels.However, 10 out of 17 samples were also contaminated by Aspergillus section Nigri with a range from 6% to 68% ofkernels. There was a significant inverse logarithmic relationship between levels of Fusarium and Aspergillus contamination.All samples were contaminated by FBs; FB1 ranged from 0.09 to 30.2 ?g g-1, whereas FB2 ranged from 0.04 to 13.2 ?g g-1.The ratio of FB2/FB1 contamination in the maize samples was evaluated and the highest values occurred in samplescontaminated with Aspergillus section Nigri. Thirty strains of Aspergillus section Nigri isolated from these samples weremolecularly identified (based on sequences of two housekeeping genes) and analysed for their capability to produce FB2.Among the 30 strains isolated, 12 were identified as Aspergillus welwitschiae (syn. A. awamori) and 18 as A. tubingensis.FB2 was produced by five out of 12 strains of A. welwitschiae within a range of 0.20-5 ?g g-1. This is the first reportshowing the capability of Aspergillus section Nigri from maize to produce FB2 and its possibility to contribute to FBaccumulation in kernels.

Autore Pugliese

• Mule' Giuseppina , Susca Antonia , Moretti Antonio , Logrieco Antonio Francesco , Haidukowski Edith Miriam

Tutti gli autori

• Logrieco A.F.; Haidukowski M.; Susca A.; Mulè G.; Munkvold G.P.; Moretti A.

Titolo volume/Rivista

Food additives & contaminants. Part A. Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment

Anno di pubblicazione

2014

ISSN

1944-0049

ISBN

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Numero di citazioni Wos

Nessuna citazione

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Settori ERC

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Codici ASJC

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